Mikoto's "Gratitude"

"Mikoto, your Sharingan has evolved into the Two-Tomoe Sharingan."

Kushina said to the dazed Mikoto. Even Tsunade was surprised. They'd really managed to evolve her Sharingan.

At last, Mikoto came back to her senses. Her face was so pale it hurt to look at.

"Um, Mikoto, are you okay?" Shin asked cautiously.

Shin knew she wasn't in any mortal danger, but what he'd put her through was more than most people could handle.

There was no helping it. If she wanted to evolve her Sharingan quickly, she had to suffer. To gain something, you had to give something up

.

"I'm fine." Mikoto gritted her teeth and fixed her eyes on Shin.

"Ahaha, good. I'm glad you're okay."

Shin gave an awkward laugh. Why did Mikoto look like she wanted to eat him alive? Was that just his imagination?

Mikoto tried to calm her racing heart, but she still hadn't settled down.

"Mikoto, actually, I think I could help you awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan too. Maybe two more times would do it. Want to give it a try?"

At Shin's words, Mikoto took two steps back. She couldn't take any more of that

. If she went through it twice more, she might end up scared to death. She could forget about awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"I think I'll awaken it on my own, little by little." Mikoto quickly refused.

"Was it really that scary?" Kushina asked.

Mikoto glanced at Kushina. "You can try it yourself, Kushina. Then you'll know whether it's scary."

"Actually, never mind."

When Mikoto had fallen from the sky, even watching had made Kushina's heart clench. Just imagining what it would be like to experience it for real sent a shiver down her spine. She'd better not try to prove how brave she was.

Mikoto had been badly frightened, but she'd gained quite a lot. Her chakra had doubled, and with the abilities of the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, she was now as strong as an Elite Chunin.

After Mikoto refused, Shin felt a little disappointed. He was about to go train when Tsunade grabbed him.

"Why are you stopping me, Tsunade?" Shin asked curiously.

"Earlier, you said Uchiha Madara didn't have the Mangekyō Sharingan, but the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. What is the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan? Is it an evolution of the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Tsunade had forgotten about it earlier, but now it had suddenly come back to her, so she asked Shin.

"That's right. The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan is an evolution of the Mangekyō Sharingan. You didn't know that?"

Shin found it strange. The Senju and Uchiha Clan had been enemies, after all. How could they not know that Uchiha Madara had the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan?

"Is it really so strange that I didn't know?"

Tsunade rolled her eyes at Shin, then asked, puzzled, "How do you know?"

"I, uh... I just do." Shin didn't know how to answer.

Tsunade looked at Shin intently. Ever since she'd first met him, she'd known he had plenty of secrets.

But Tsunade wasn't the type to pry. If Shin didn't want to share some things, she wouldn't ask.

Moving on, Tsunade asked, "What's the difference between the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan?"

"There's a big difference. First, there's the ocular power. If the Mangekyō Sharingan's power is a river, then the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan's is an ocean."

"The Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan can use Perfect Susanoo, while the Mangekyō Sharingan doesn't have enough ocular power to use Perfect Susanoo."

"Also, the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan can be used freely, but the Mangekyō Sharingan can't. Its ocular power doesn't recover after being used. Overuse it, and your eyesight will deteriorate until you go blind."

"What? You're saying that using the Mangekyō Sharingan too much can make you go blind?"

Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto all stood up at once.

"Don't worry. I'm different. I won't go blind." Seeing their expressions, Shin knew they were worried about his eyes.

"Really?" Kushina looked at Shin suspiciously. "You'd better not lie to us."

"I swear. If I'm lying, I'll be a puppy. Happy?"

Only after Shin swore did Kushina believe him.

"Don't worry. I have a way to evolve it into the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. I'm going to train."

Shin headed off to train. Mikoto checked the time, then went to the kitchen to make dinner. Kushina and Tsunade stayed in the living room, staring at each other.

Before long, Mikoto finished cooking and went out to the yard to call Shin in for dinner.

"Smells great." Shin walked inside and breathed in the aroma. Mikoto might have been young, but she was already a great cook.

"Shin, I made this pot of chicken soup for you. It's to thank you for helping me awaken the Two-Tomoe Sharingan."

"You don't have to thank me. With our relationship, there's no need for that." Shin smiled at Mikoto.

"What relationship?" Kushina blurted out, giving Shin a dangerous look.

"Teammates. What else could it be?" Shin answered innocently.

"That chicken soup smells great."

Kushina looked at the soup and reached for a bowl, but Mikoto suddenly tapped her hand.

"Kushina, this is for Shin. Only Shin can drink it. It's my way of thanking him, so make sure you finish it all." Mikoto said earnestly to Shin.

"Humph. It's no big deal. I don't want any, anyway." Kushina pouted.

"Since it's from you, Mikoto, I'll make sure to finish it." Shin took the bowl of chicken soup Mikoto had served him.

Just from the smell, Shin could tell it would be delicious.

He blew on it and took a small sip. His expression changed slightly. It was way too salty. Had salt suddenly become free?

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Mikoto asked with a smile.

Shin looked at Mikoto. Maybe it was his imagination, but her smile seemed a little terrifying.

Tsunade ate quietly. One look at Shin's face told her something was wrong with the soup. That explained why Mikoto hadn't let them have any.

"Mikoto, it's a little salty." Shin gave a rueful smile. Now he understood. This wasn't gratitude at all. She was getting back at him.

Mikoto was still pretty resentful about the way he'd helped her awaken the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

"Is it salty? Then drink more." Mikoto said with a smile.

Shin looked at Mikoto as if she were a demon.

Mikoto, you really are a demon. You're no longer the gentle, kind Mikoto I had in mind.

"I put all that effort into helping you awaken the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, and this is how you treat me. Sigh." Shin sighed.

"Don't even start. I was almost scared to death." Mikoto rolled her eyes at Shin. Even now, thinking about the process of awakening the Two-Tomoe Sharingan made her feel shaken.

"Ahem. It was all part of helping your Sharingan evolve. Look, your One-Tomoe Sharingan evolved into the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, didn't it?"

Shin cleared his throat. He had to admit, the way he'd helped Mikoto had been a little excessive.

"Fine

. I'll drink all the chicken soup." Shin looked at Mikoto's resentful gaze and spoke with a miserable expression.

"Don't drink it. I really did add too much salt." Mikoto took the soup away from him.

"Looks like you can't bear to make me suffer after all." Shin grinned at Mikoto.

Mikoto gave Shin a gentle glare, her cheeks turning slightly red.

Watching Shin and Mikoto, Kushina gave a quiet snort. She suddenly felt a little sour inside.